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Eleanor 1st Lady of Radio

Lesson Author
Stafford, Pam
Course(s)
20th Century American History
Required Time Frame
1 class period
Subject(s)
First Ladies
Women's History
Grade Level(s)
9
10
11
12
Lesson Abstract
Students will read and analyze the two parts of Eleanor Roosevelt's radio broadcast on Dec. 7, 1941. Through class & small group discussion, students will analyze what Eleanor’s message was intended to be and how it was delivered. Students will identify the talking points and how they differ from the original broadcast. Students will consider the effect of Eleanor’s speech, being the first, to address the attack on Pearl Harbor from the White House. Students will conclude the lesson with listening to the radio broadcast and discuss how hearing her voice might change tone of the speech they read.
Rationale (why are you doing this?)

 

  • Focus on the role of women leaders in a time crisis.

 

Lesson Objectives - the student will

 

  • Students will be able to identify particular rhetoric that is applied in time of crisis.
  • Students will be able to identify traditional and nontraditional roles of women leaders.
District, state, or national performance and knowledge standards/goals/skills met

 

Missouri Priority Standards

  • 9-12. AH.1.CC.B
  • 9-12.AH.1.PC. A
  • 9-12.AH.1.PC. B
  • 9-12. AH.4.CC.B
Primary sources needed (document, photograph, artifact, diary or letter, audio or visual recording, etc.) needed

 

Episode 11 “Over Our Coffee Cups” Radio Program: https://www.c-span.org/video/?419692-1/eleanor-roosevelt-pearl-harbor-attack-radio-address

Fully describe the activity or assignment in detail. What will both the teacher and the students do?

 

  • Bell work (Starter): Have students brainstorm what was going on in the United States and within the World prior to the end of 1941. This can be done in a form of a pad let/post it notes/list.
  • Background:
  • Eleanor Roosevelt, Typescript of opening remarks for her NBC radio program, Dec. 7, 1941. During the late afternoon, Eleanor typed new opening remarks for her Sunday evening radio program. Her final handwritten changes can be found on the original document. At 6:30 PM, Mrs. Roosevelt read from these pages as she addressed the nation. 
  • In her speech she did error: She mistakenly notes that she saw the Japanese ambassador leaving a meeting with FDR at the White House before the attack. In fact, it was the Chinese ambassador, who had a 12:30 PM appointment with the President. 
  • Have students read and annotate the “Pearl Harbor” message. Have students share thoughts on what Mrs. Roosevelt might have been feeling, and what her role as 1st lady might require of her?
  • Background: Consider that Mrs. Roosevelt was a prominent figure as 1st lady, she was also a mother who son was in the service too. How would that affect her response?
  • Move from the “Pearl Harbor” message to the actual radio broadcast. Include the transcript, so students can follow along, as well as, reflect back on what was aired.
  • Once finished listening to the broadcast, discuss with the students the “added” message to the original broadcast. Could have the “Pearl Harbor” message changed the meaning behind the original broadcast? How could the message add to theme of the broadcast that day?

 

Assessment: fully explain the assessment method in detail or create and attach a scoring guide

 

  • The assessment would be the class discussion that followed the broadcast. Teachers could choose to turn it into a Socratic Seminar. Have students consider the 1st Ladies responsibilities, and how her words were the first to come from the White House following the attack. 
  • Within discussion, consider what the original tone and theme of the broadcast was suppose to be, and how the added “Pearl Harbor” message would have altered the tone and them of the broadcast.
  • Consider how the message might have played with the audience, the American people.